Coilable measuring rule



Aug. 16, `1938. A. s. DUNCAN ET AL 2-,1275443 COILABLE MEASURING RULE Filed Deo. l1, 1935 Alberi Jzzcznleyanoan Ausz'n L. Sion/@ZZ Patented Aug. 16, 1938` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COILABLE MEASURING RULE Albert Stanley Duncan and Austin L. Stowell, New Britain, Conn., assignors to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 11, 1935, Serial No. 53,927

12 Claims.

A metal strip having a bent transverse form (for.

example, a concavo-convex cross section) so that it will resist bending and will, when extended, automatically assume a rectilinear state or rodlike form.

The aim of the invention is'to provide, in a measuring device of this type, an improved and simple arrangement whereby inside measurements, as well as outside ones, may be very conveniently taken.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement by means of which a portion of the tape may be secured substantially at right angles to the remaining portion in order that the measurement of objects or distances out of the convenient reach of the user of the device may be taken with facility.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown, for illustrative purposes, one embodiment which the present invention may take:

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved rule with the tape in partially extended position, and

the extension member being shown in itsl inoperae tive position against the tape;

Fig. 2 is a View looking at the concave face of the extended portion of the tape;

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the reverse side` of the tape and extension ;y

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the use for taking an inside measurement;

Fig. 5gis a sectional view taken Substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3vand illustrating the means for locking the inner end of the extension to the tape; l I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken `substantially on` the line 6 6 of Fig. 4 and showing the manner in which the extension member is "secured in operative positionto the casing; and

Fig. '7 is a View of the tape showing the manner in which a measurementof an object out of convenient reach may be readily taken.

device in Referring tothe drawing in detail, Ill desig` nates a casing o1' holder of any suitable size` or configuration, it being shown as being generally circular and as having an entrance slot I I in its peripheral wall. The tape, designated generally by the numeral I2, is of the type described in the patents to H. A. Farrand No. 1,402,509, granted February 3, 1922, and No. 1,730,199, granted October 1, 1929. This tape is in the form of a metallic ribbon having a concavo-convex cross section, the ribbon being sufficiently flexible to be rolled or coiled and having sufficient stiffness and resiliency to cause it to assume a rectilinear state when unrestricted. When a rule of this type is freely bent longitudinally, its cross sectional form, at its bent portion, is changed from an arcuate to a ilat, and the bent portion assumes a longitudinal curvature the radius of which generally corresponds to the radius of the arc of the cross sectional form of the rule in its extended state. By preference, the improvements of the present invention are incorporated in a rule of the pull-push type and, for illustrative purposes, there is shown, within the casing, a winding strip I3 anchored at its inner end to a stud I4 and secured at its outer end to the inner end of the measuring tape. 'I'his winding strip preferably has a tension which only substantially counterbalances the resistance of friction of the parts and the tendency of the measuring tape to resist bending. The rule is provided at its outer end with a hook B. The concave face of the rule has la scale I5 which, as shown in Fig. 2, starts with zero at the free end of the tape. On the convex face of the tape is a scale I'which starts with a number greater than zero, in the present instance the same starting at the five inch mark. The casing is provided with a lug or tongue I'I which extends outwardly and forwardly from the rear edge of the entrance opening II. This lug is generally of T form, it having a head I8 and a neck `I9 connecting the head to the casing.

The letter A designates generally an extension adapted to be employed when taking inside measurements. The extension, in the present illustrative disclosure, includes a slide or clip 25 slidably mounted on the tape and a flexible strip 26 corresponding generally in character to the measuring tape and secured at its forward end to the clip v25, as by means of rivets 21. More particularly, the clip 25 comprises a more or less rigid sheet metal member` transversely curved correspondingly to the transverse curvature of the tape and adapted to overlie the convex surface of the tape. The clip has, at each of its mar- Sins, a pair of Vspaced ears 28 and 29 which are turned in under the tape so as to hold the clip forward edge 24 of the clip to the rear end of the, strip 26, is equal to the missing part of the scale" I6, that is to say in the present illustrative dis-f closure the length of the extension is yfive inches. Y

In order to secure the extension ,t'othecasingrjv when an inside measurementiisvtakem.thejstripg has, between its ends, a keyhole slotiSi'adap'ted to receive and interlock with the lug l1." slotted portion of the stripfmayibe reinforcedfb'y a small, thin, resilient plate 3| secured-in placa..

The keyhole slot has an enlarged" endy for receiving .thelhea'df I8 and ya .stenrportion by rivets 32.

the margins. of whichare adapted toengage be# heath-the arms of 'the headjIBWhen-the. strip'is f in operative position.

In order tofsecure fthe. extensionLadapted slid-e' ing :.mvement relative to the tape and close against the tape whenthe extensionis not in use, the extension, adjacent its rear` end,v is provided with asmall..metalturnibutton'33 adapted tol operate through. al corresponding slot 134-''inV the 'measuring tape." Whenthe :extension is noti in use," it is locked in'ipositionfzon rtheouter .end of'the tape; as 'shown'finxFig'sjQ .and 3,it being` observed. that vthe..'.turrr':button: 33,ras shown inl Figib, hasbeen inserted through :the slot 34 and turned at :right angles' thereto'.`

While the tapeisi `completely Ystored lwithinfthe casingfandiduringsthe normali-.usent the tape;

for.' example 'when outside measurements `are bey ingiitaken," .the'vextens'ionf iszlocked againstzthe outer portion. of. :the `Stape .lbylthe turn button 33.' The-.operations ofx'pushing .thewtape completelyinto :the casing 'and "withdrawing the tapeirom i the casing areA not-.interfered iwith bythe exten* J1 sionas this extension; being-ofzrthe.Y same character asthe tape sis coiled-:andxuncoiled simultaneouslywiththat portionfofthe tape awhich itv over.-

liess.v Whenrit; is4 desired to t.take vvan inside; measurement,v .the-.frea'r .-en'd rofrftheiextension'? strip isY disconnected ffr'om the turnbuttom fthe head of the lugIT-is' insertedfthroughfthe enlarged end oftheikey slot; and thenrzthe extension is 'moved rearwardly, that isfto the leit-l referring -to Fig. 4,v

so y as to engage vther'margins oi the v.stem of the slo'tfbetweenxthenarms1of"thehead I8` and the' peripheral wall of the casing." Due to thefact that f the ytape tends "toluncoil, .that-"isa the --free fend of the `tape tries-toturnin-the directionjof thearrow C, "Fig: 4, suchV leveragefis"'exertedfonmthe# strip 4as will lcause the; 'latten to be anchoredinf place-with respect-tothe;-lugiz'Il-J The -1free end of:;the extension maynow lie-placed againstoneV off/fthe opposed:surfaces; the 4distance Ibetween whichlis to'befdeterminedyand the i-free end of the y tapefis` drawn out-'until-.lit-engagesthe Yother op posing-isurface-.f The `*distances-betweenY these Y opl posing'sur'f acesmay now vbefletermined by merelyradingthe scalefmarkon thetape' whicnis-A in'V registry with the'indexwedge 2420i@ the-extension.

f. Further,- inaccordance Awith'the fpresent'inven-4 tionthe clipfis sorconstructed and-arranged that it'liiaybeemplyedtozhold the'f'outer end ofithe tape? atjsubstanti'ally right angles to the main lengthof the tape, as shown most clearly' in Fig; 71

the clip are provided at their opposed ends with lugs 35 which overlie, but are slightly spaced from, the concave face of the tape. The distance between these ears lengthwise of the tape is somewhat less than the width of the tape in order that a portion of the tape, when bent at right angles to that portion which carries the clipl may have itsfmarginsuengaged betweenthese lugs and the portion of the tape carrying the clip. With this arrangement, when it is desired to take a measurement out of the convenient reach of the operator;.",as,:,for` example, when it is desired to take a measurement vof an overhead shade, the Youter'end of the-tapemay be brought into crossed relationtothe mainextended portion of the tape and engaged=withthe lugs, as shown in Fig. 7.

When so engaged with the lugs, the portion of the tapelbe'tWeenithe-lugs is attened somewhat so that.it .Wllhnot become readily disengaged from the lugs'. The operator may now draw out the tape to the..necessary lengthtzandbring the cross portion of thefta'peiinto itrelati'on' with the obj ect As .zmanyichanges :could be.r made'lin the above construction :and Ymany Yapparently widely differentiembodiments ofthiszinventionfcould be made'iwithoutf departing ifrom:` the scope thereof, it "is'-intended that'all matter "contained l in the above description or shown in the accompanyingridrawing. -fshall iberinterpreted as. illustrative andznot infa limiting sense.

Itfisi also Lt'o'be understood that Athe vvlanguage usedzzin".the.;fo11owing. claims. is intended `to .cover all of the generic and specic features oftheV invention .herein described and all statements of the. scope oiltthe invention which; as'a'matter of language, might: be said to fall therebetween.

We .-cla'im as. our' invention:

` 1l Inasrule '.ofithe character. described, a resilient measuring. 4tape having. a transverse curvature and an inherenttendencyto assume a rec'- tilinear: state',v av casing lwithin'which said tape is adaptedzto be Wound :and `having a'sin'gle en trance slot'throughtwhich' 4said tape is moved, an extension mounted fonfsaidtape .and having a resilient member Iadapted .to be coiled withsaid tape withinfthe' casing vand adapted vto be with# drawnifrom fsaid'acasing through said slot, a slidable connection between theforward vend of the eXtensionx-and'tlie tape whereby 'said extension mayb'e. drawn y"rearwardly of` said leasing, and cooperative'locking means carried byl said casing and :saiid :extension intermediate of Tits ends for removably' flockingisaid extension'when in rearward position.:

2. In a rule of the character. describedra resilientfr'nea'suring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherentltendency to assumea recnimeer' statale casing within' which said tapeis adapted to be wound andhavng a single entrance slot through'which' said tape is moved-an extension mounted r:on-said tape and including a resilient strip having a .transverse curvature andan inherenttendencyto assume a rectilinear state, said'strip being coilable Withsaid tape withinv..thefcasing and.,being -completely removablefromaid `pcasing throughlsaid slot, a slidable connectionebetween the forward-endeof theextension and the. tapevwhereby said extensiony may be: drawnfrea'rwardly of -thev'casing,A and vcooperative; locking means carried by 'said' casing and extension fordetachablyand positively connecting f'said strip between'its ends in'a predetermined position onfsaid casing adjacent. said :slot .and

substantially in valignment with the extended portion of the tape.

3. In a rule of the characterdescribed, a resilient measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency-to assume a rectilinear state, a casing within which said tape is adapted to be wound and having a peripheral wall with a slot through which said tape is moved, an extension slidably mounted on said tape and having a resilient strip adapted to be coiled with said tape within the casing and adapted to be withdrawn from said casing through said slot, said strip having an opening between its ends, and a member on said casing adjacent the rear edge of said slot and having a shoulder opposed to the peripheral wall of the casing, said opening being arranged to receive said member with the edge of the opening between said shoulder and peripheral Wall.

4. In a rule of the character described, a casing having an entrance slot and a T-shaped lug adjacent the rear edge of said slot and having a neck portion and abutments opposed to the peripheral wall of the casing, a resilient measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency7 to assume a rectilinear state and adapted to be moved through said slot and to be externally wound within said casing, and an extension slidably mounted on said tape and having a resilient strip with a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state, said extension being adapted to be wound within said casing with said tape and to be withdrawn from the casing through said slot, said strip having between its ends a slot adapted to receive the neck of said lug with its marginal edges between said abutments and the peripheral wall of said casing.

5. In a rule of the character described, a casing provided with a peripheral wall having a slot and a T-shaped lug extending from the rear edge of said slot, a measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state and adapted to be moved through said slot and to be wound within said casing, and an extension comprising a clip slidably mounted on said tape and a resilient transversely curved strip connected at its forward end to said clip and adapted to be wound in said casing with said tape, said strip having between its ends a key-hole slot adapted to detachably receive said lug.

6. In a rule of the character described, a resilient measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state, a casing within which said tape is adapted to be wound and having a single lentrance slot through which said tape is moved, an extension having its forward end slidably mounted on said tape and having a resilient member adapted to be coiled with said tape within the casing and adapted to be completely withdrawn from said casing through said slot, and cooperative locking means carried by` said casing and extension for connecting said extension between its ends to said casing adjacent said slot in a predetermined position on the casing.

'7. In a rule of the character described, a resilient measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state, a casing within which said tape is adapted to be wound and having an entrance slot through which said tape is moved, an extension slidably mounted on said tape and including a resilient strip having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state, said strip being coilable with said tape within said casing and being removable from Said casing through said slot,means for detachably connecting said strip between its ends to said casing adjacent said slot vand substantially in parallelism to the extended portion of the tape when withdrawn from the casing whereby inside measurements may be taken, and means for connecting said extension to the forwardend of said tape and against'movement relative thereto when said extension is not in position forv taking inside measurements. 1

8. In a rule of the character described, a casing provided with a peripheral Wall having a slot and a T-shaped lug extending from the rear edge of said slot, a measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state and adapted to be moved through said slot and to be wound within said casing; an `extension comprising a clip slidably mounted on said tape and a resilient transversely-curved strip connected at its forward end to said clip and adapted to be Wound in said casing with said tape, said strip having between its ends a key-hole adapted to detachably receive said lug; and means for securing said extension upon, and against longitudinal movement relative to, the forward lend of said tape and including a turn button carried by said strip and an elongated slot in the measuring tape adapted to accommodate said turn button.

9. In a rule of the character described, a casing having a peripheral wall provided with a single slot, a resilient measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state and adapted to be moved through said slot and to be wound within said casing, said tape having on one face a scale starting with zero at the outer end of the tape, said tape having on its opposite face a scale starting with a numeral greater than zero at the outer end of the tape, an extension including a clip slidably mounted on said tape and a resilient strip secured to said clip and positioned on the last mentioned face of said tape, said extension being adapted to be withdrawn from said casing through said slot and to be wound within the casing with said tape, the forward edge of said clip constituting an index mark and said extension corresponding in length to the amount lacking from the said second mentioned scale, and cooperative locking means carried by said casing and extension for positively but removably securing said extension to said casing in a predetermined position on the casing and adjacent said slot and in alignment with the extended portion of said tape.

10. In a rule of the character described, a measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state, and a clip slidably mounted on said tape and having spaced ears bent about the longitudinal edges of the tape, two of said ears being spaced on opposite sides of said tape and having opposed lugs spaced slightly from the tape and spaced apart lengthwise of the tape a distance somewhat less than the width of the tape whereby a portion of the'tape, when bent at right angles to that portion which carries the clip, may have its margins engaged between the lugs and the latter portion of the tape.

11. In a rule of the character described, a casing provided with a peripheral wall having a slot, a measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent vtendency toassume a rectilinear state and adapted' to be moved through said slot and to Abe wound within said casing, 4and an extension comprising a clip slidably'mounted on said tape and a resilient transversely-curved strip connected at its forward endi4 to said clip and adapted to be wound in said casing, said clip having ears bent about the longitudinal edges of the tape and provided with lugs arranged to hold a length of the tape at right angles to the length of the tape carrying the clip.

12. In avrule `of the character described; a

measuring tape having a transverse curvature and an inherent tendency to assume a rectilinear state, a clip slidably mounted on the tape, and spaced ears on said clip respectively overlying opposite edges of the tape and disposed longitudinally of the tape, said ears being adapted to removably-secure another portion of the tape angularly to and in slidable transverse frictional contact `With the transversely curved tape portion initially mounted with said clip.

ALBERT STANLEY DUNCAN.

AUSTIN L. STOWELL. 

